Day 1
On arrival you will be met by your guide, who will transfer you to your hotel where the remainder of your day is at leisure.
Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. Over 100 temples are spread over a vast area and the site easily lives up to its status as one of the seven wonders of the forgotten world.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: (_/_/_)
Day 2
In the morning enjoy a rather special elephant ride, from the south gate of Angkor Thom to the famous Bayon Temple – a rather special way to introduce the family to the Angkor temples! Continue your tour of the temples by foot.
In the afternoon, if you wish to break away from the temples for a hour or two, the Cambodia Cultural Village is a fascinating place to learn about the Khmer heritage and its good fun for children of all ages.
During any visit to the Angkor temples, we ensure your day(s) remain both flexible and personal. Having met with your guide, you will be able to discuss in detail what you are looking to achieve from your time at the temples. Whilst some wish to explore as many temples as they can during their stay, others like to travel at a slower, more relaxed pace.
Maximum experience, minimum crowds
Whether it’s sunrise at Angkor Wat or sunset at Pre Rup, climbing through the snake like roots that engulf Ta Prohm or swimming in the quiet waters of the West Baray Reservoir (or a combination of these), you can be sure that your visit to one of the seven wonders will not be easily forgotten. Unlike some archaeological tours, the Angkor temples never seem to lose that initial ‘wow factor’. Every site is as outstanding as the last, and it will be with a mixture of regret and excitement that you'll get back into your air-conditioned transport to visit the next site. We do still appreciate that some visitors are wary of becoming ‘templed-out’ and to combat this we can create more varied days with visits to other sites such as floating villages and flooded forests on the Tonlé Sap Lake, museums and exhibitions, cooking schools or simply time at leisure to explore Siem Reap or laze by the pool.
Your guide
All our guides are highly experienced Angkor specialists, fully trained and licensed to work at the temples. Along with their exceptional knowledge of each temple and the civilisations that built them, Selective Asia’s guides know how best to avoid the bus-loads that descend on any given temple at certain times of the day, and know every trick in the book when it comes to getting the best photos and the most tranquil moments.
If you have any specific requirements or special interests, be sure to let us know and we will arrange the guide with the most suitable expertise.
Additional Temples
You may also wish to consider visiting some of the further lying such as Beng Melea & Koh Ker, Sambor Prei Kuk or Preah Vihear. Excursions to these less-visited temples always enhance your experience however they do change things logistically and therefore visits must be arranged well in advance of your arrival.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 3
After breakfast, depart Siem Reap to the Tonlé Sap Lake where you will board a local boat at Kampong Klaing, a remarkable village built entirely on stilts. En route there is the opportunity to enjoy watching the local fishery activities and lives along the river. The journey will take you out through the river to the great lake where you’ll pass by the floating village and continue forwards to the Kampong Phluk, or the ‘flooded forest’.
Accessible only during high water, you’ll pass through the tree tops whilst still seated in your local boat! There will also be the opportunity to visit a village on the banks of the Tonlé Sap and take the time to learn more about different traditional methods of fishing before returning to Siem Reap in the early afternoon.
Continue your tour of the Angkor Temples, explore Siem Reap town, or enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 4
Continue your tour of the Angkor Temples...
Late afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The city was once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient and despite its recent turbulent history it still retains much Colonial charm. Today the city buzzes with energy and an air of opportunity as Cambodia advances into the 21st century.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 5
After breakfast, start the morning with a visit to Future Light Orphanage (FLO), a non-government-run organisation that acts as both an orphanage and a mental health centre. The FLO is a ‘place of hopes, dreams and inspiration’, and any visit is a very positive experience - as well as a hands-on one. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the children, particularly in the library, where both you and your children can participate in the day's activities.
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Alternatively, for families with children of an appropriate age, you may wish to visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes and Cheung Ek, better known as the ‘Killing Fields’. In 1975, after years of guerrilla warfare, the radical Communist Khmer Rouge party, under its leader Pol Pot, seized power of Cambodia and declared ‘year zero’. They immediately abolished money and private property, ordering the entire population of Phnom Penh from their homes and into the countryside to cultivate the fields. Over the next three years, an estimated 2 million Cambodians died, many from starvation and exhaustion. Many others were tortured and executed for being supposed ‘enemies of the state’.
It will be an incredibly moving morning, but these are two visits you will be glad you have made. During your visit to Cambodia, you will barely meet a single person who didn’t lose a member of their family during these years, yet they are all willing to talk openly about it with you. They wish you to hear about it and see these places, to ensure that it never happens again.
In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace, situated on the site of the former citadel and built by King Norodom in 1966, the Palace still serves as the King and Queen's residential quarters. Also within the walls of the Palace is the Silver Pagoda, so called because of five thousand silver tiles that line its exquisite floor. If time permits there is also the option of visiting the National Museum, which houses the worlds leading collection of Khmer art and sculpture, and Wat Phnom the founding site of the city. All are within easy walking distance of each other and are a great introduction to this laid-back city.
The evening is at leisure for you to explore more of the city. A great place to find yourself at sunset is on the banks of the Mekong River with a cold drink, watching the city slow down.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Day 6
Morning departure (driver only) heading south towards the coastal town of Sihanoukville. Upon arrival the remainder of your day is at leisure.
Sihanoukville is a lively seaside town with four excellent beaches to choose from. There is a wide range of restaurants, bars and shops as well as several islands just off the coast which make for excellent day trips.
Overnight in Sihanoukville.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 7
After breakfast depart for Ream National Park. The Park is a lush green ecosystem encompassing 21,000 hectares of coastal area, mangrove forests, tropical jungle, off-shore coral reefs, two islands and the Prek Teuk Sap Estuary.
Enjoy a boat ride along the freshwater canal, passing through a mangrove forest and stopping to visit a bird sanctuary. En route you are likely to see many species of birds, flying fish and even dolphins if you are very lucky. Your boat will stop at an unspoiled white sandy beach where you can enjoy swimming, sunbathing and a picnic lunch.
In the afternoon, take a 30 minute walk through the jungle via a shaded trail, crossing the headland to arrive at the fishing village of Thmor Thom where your boat is waiting for you. Return back to your vehicle and return to Sihanoukville, via the waterfalls at Kbal Chhay, arriving at your hotel in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Sihanoukville.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Day 8
Your day is at leisure with a vehicle and driver available if you require them.
Overnight in Sihanoukville.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 9
Your day is at leisure with a vehicle and driver available if you require them.
Overnight in Sihanoukville.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/Dinner)
Day 10
Your day is at leisure until your transfer (driver only) back to Phnom Penh for your onward flight.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)